“I am out of work because of the government furlough. It’s made bills tight and so having her do this is really unexpected and very generous and really helped things out a bunch for us,” Brian Engel said.

Brian’s USDA job is on hold during the government shutdown. Melanie’s a registered nurse who drives miles out of the way from Lenexa to Miss Kathy’s daycare.

“Always happy and loving with the kids. He runs in every day and I get to leave him knowing he’s happy,” Melanie said.

And Melanie hopes the $300 will make some other family who needs help, happy.

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